Study – Running-Related Injuries On The Rise

A new study published in the journal Clinical Pediatrics, finds running-related injuries to children has increased by 34 percent between 1994 and 2007.

There were an estimated 224,344 running-related injuries treated in emergency rooms during that period, with an average of 16,000 per year.

The majority of injuries included sprains and strains to the lower extremities. Children aged 6 to 14 were more likely to be injured as a result of a fall while running at school, while teens 15 to 18 were more likely to be hurt while running in the street or while participating in sports and recreation.

"Encouraging children and adolescents to run for exercise is a good way to ensure that they remain physically active," Lara McKenzie, principle investigator says in a statement. "However, the findings suggest formal, evidenced-based and age-specific guidelines are needed so that parents, coaches and physical education teachers can teach children the proper way to run in order to reduce the risk of injury."